The Creeds, Assurance, and Good Works (1): Heidelberg Catechism, A. 86

by Martyn McGeown Assurance is one of the important themes of the Reformed confessions, in particular of the Three Forms of Unity. The theme of the Heidelberg Catechism is comfort, which is impossible without assurance. In fact, we read in Answer 1, “by His Holy Spirit, He (Jesus Christ, my faithful Savior) also assures me of eternal life.” In Answer 21, where the Catechism defines faith, we read, “True faith is … a certain knowledge … [and] also an assured confidence, which the Holy Ghost...